Confession: Hello! My name is Tonya, and I am a tv-holic.
Yes, it’s true. I am addicted to watching television. Now, I understand many view television as a “boob-tube” or an “idiot box,” with which I disagree. I think it depends on what you watch that would make tv be either of the aforementioned. For me and my addiction, I like dramatic and sitcom shows. I detest reality shows and I find very few game shows that bring me comedy. At the same time, you’d be amazed what you could learn from watching dramatic shows like Law and Order SVU, Suits, Queen Sugar, Queen of the South, and Harlots or sitcoms like Two Broke Girls, and The Mick. Please know these are just examples, as my tv viewing list is massive.
When certain people find out I watch, “so much television,” as they call it, I am immediately hit with, “How can you watch so much tv?” I usually giggle and never answer because their follow-up statement is almost always an emphatic, albeit condescending, “I’m too busy to watch tv!” It’s as if they believe I have nothing going on in my life or have no life at all. At the same time, I might hear from one of those self-righteous parents who say, “Well, you don’t have children so that’s understandable.” Again, condescending! Oh, oh, oh, and there’s the other archetype who says, “I read books instead of watching tv.” As if I don’t read books, is what they are implying. These people make me SICK! So, this is my note to THEM!!
Listen! There are 24 hours in a day and I make it a point to find time to watch television for entertainment, instruction, and relaxation. If you can’t find the beauty that television can provide, YOUR BAD! Don’t try to make me feel like I’m wasting away my life and mind because I find time to partake in the joys of television. You can’t do it with your goody-two-shoes attitudes.
So – for those of you who believe there is just NOT enough time in the day or week to watch television, I strongly urge you to read this wonderful time-management blog written by dually licensed Marriage and Family therapist and professional counselor, Mrs. VanBuren, a former classmate of mine. I know she did not write this blog for tv-holics, however, her words fit my vent. As Mrs. VanBuren says, “Stop the glorification of busy.” After reading her blog and putting her suggestions into action, maybe you can find time to routinely watch a television show or two.
For you “extra parents” or “avid readers” who feel your children take up too much of your time or your imagination from the words you read are enough, maybe not! Mrs. VanBuren wrote another short blog simply titled, Time Out. Allow television to be your time-out a time or two then maybe, just maybe you’ll leave me alone about my tv viewing habits.
DISCLAIMER: Kimberly VanBuren, LMFT, LPC-S is an accomplished therapist. Her blog postings are not purposely in conjunction with any of my blog postings thus far. I exercised creative control by fusing the important information she offers with a not-so-important subject I felt needed to be addressed. Mrs. VanBuren and I do not have any professional ventures at this time nor pending.
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